Golf Bag Cart Front Wheel Foldable Device

ABSTRACT

This invention is to provide a golf bag cart front wheel foldable device, comprising: a fixed mount, having its one end connected to the bottom tube of cart frame and the other end provided with a fitted end, where the fitted end is in pinned connection with a buckle at its one side; a movable mount, capable of being seized by the buckle and joined fixedly to the fixed mount by means of a hinge, where its one end is provided with a fitted end which is physically in harmony with the fixed mount; and a front wheel frame, having its top end connected fixedly to the movable mount, while its bottom end is joined to the front wheel; through the loosening of the buckle, the movable mount is no more seized, which enables the movable mount and the front wheel frame to rotate with respect to the hinge, and the front wheel is then leveled for folding purpose, to achieve great handiness in maneuvering.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to golf bag cart front wheel foldable devices and more specifically to one where its front wheel is leveled for folding purpose and the entire steps can be completed in one succession, which substantially improves the maneuverability and simplifies the structure.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The latest prior art golf bag cart front wheel foldable device, Republic of China Patent Ser. No. 11/853,172 (same applicant as this invention), is to level front wheel first and then to fold it up. This approach is no doubt to moderately shrink the packing. However, its structure is still a bit more complicated, which calls for two successions of steps in the maneuvering. It fails to accomplish the folding steps in a single succession, and the annoyance in the maneuvering apparently has considerable room for further improvement.

The applicant of this invention realized this situation and pushed the inventor hardly ahead with the improvement, and eventually gave birth to the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of this invention is to provide a golf bag cart front wheel foldable device, where its front wheel is leveled first for the folding purpose, and the complete folding steps is done in merely one succession which achieves absolute handiness in the manipulation.

The other objective of this invention is to provide a golf bag cart front wheel foldable device with a plain structure.

To achieve the aforementioned objectives, this invention comprises: a fixed mount, having its one end connected to the bottom tube of cart frame and the other end provided with a fitted end, where one side of the fitted end is in pinned connection with a buckle; a movable mount, capable of being grabbed by the buckle and being joined fixedly to the fixed mount by means of a hinge, where its one end is provided with a fitted end which is physically in harmony with the fixed mount; and a front wheel frame, having its top end connected fixedly to the movable mount, while its bottom end is joined to the front wheel; through the loosening of the buckle, the movable mount is no more seized, which enables the movable mount and the front wheel frame to rotate with respect to the hinge, and the front wheel is then leveled for folding purpose, to achieve a handy manipulation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of the entire cart of the first exemplified embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the first exemplified embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the first exemplified embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the first exemplified embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the first exemplified embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 6 is an axial sectional view centered by the hinge of the first exemplified embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view of the loosening of the buckle of the first exemplified embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the loosening of the buckle of the first exemplified embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the motion of the folding of the first exemplified embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 10 is a three-dimensional view of the folding of the first exemplified embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 11 is a partial sectional view of the entire cart of the second exemplified embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 12 is a side view of the entire cart of the second exemplified embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of the motion of the folding of the second exemplified embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 14 is a three-dimensional view (I) of the folding of the second exemplified embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 15 is a three-dimensional view (II) of the folding of the second exemplified embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 16 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the major portions of the entire cart of the third exemplified embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 17 is a side view of the entire cart of the third exemplified embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of the motion of the folding of the third exemplified embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 19 is a three-dimensional view of the folding of the third exemplified embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 20 is a three-dimensional view of the fourth exemplified embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 21 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the fourth exemplified embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 22 is a three-dimensional view of the entire cart of the fourth exemplified embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram of the motion of the folding of the fourth exemplified embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram of the folding of the fourth exemplified embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram of the fifth exemplified embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 26 is a schematic fragmentary sectional view of the fifth exemplified embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 27 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the movable mount portion of the fifth exemplified embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 28 is an assembled sectional view of the fifth exemplified embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 29 is a schematic sectional view of the loosening of the buckle of the fifth exemplified embodiment of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The structural traits and the achievable function of the present invention are detailed described with reference to the following preferred exemplified embodiments and the accompanying drawings, which would help the honorable Examiner to have a thorough comprehension of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1˜6, this invention comprises a fixed mount 1, a movable mount 2 and a front wheel frame 3. The fixed mount 1, connected to a bottom tube 10 of the cart frame at its one end, while the other end is provided with a fitted end having a cavity 11 therein, where the cavity 11 is provided with a slope 12 and an orifice 13 at one side (left side), and the other side of the cavity 11 shapes a vertical plane and has a chamber 14 inside, for accommodating a buckle 15, where the buckle 15 is in pinned connection with a locking pin 17 at its inner side by means of a mat 16, which enables the buckle 15 to move an angle with respect to the locking pin 17 as an axis, and the outer portion of the middle section of the buckle 15 is jostled by a spring 18, to form a springy buckle 15, where the outer side of the buckle 15 is a buckle slice.

The movable mount 2, provided with a protruded fitted end 21 at its one end that is physically in harmony with the cavity 11 of the fixed mount 1, where the fitted end 21 is also provided with a fitted slope 22 and a mount hole 23 at its one side, and the fitted slope 22 fits the slope 12 of the cavity 11 of the fixed mount 1, while the mount hole 23 is joined to the orifice 13, for the penetration by a hinge 24 and fastening by a screw nut 25. The other side of the fitted end 21 has a bulge 26, for the seizure by the buckle 15, which connects the fixed mount 1 and the movable mount 2.

The front wheel frame 3, joined fixedly to the movable mount 2 for its top end, and joined to the front wheel 30 for its bottom end by means of a shaft 31.

According to the aforesaid structural combination, shown in FIGS. 3-6, the front wheel frame 3 is joined fixedly to the bottom portion of the movable mount 2, which enables the movable mount 2, the front wheel frame 3 and the front wheel 30 to combine together. The fixed mount 1 is joined to the movable mount 2 by way of a good match between their corresponding fitted slopes 12, 22, and both connect to each other by means of the hinge 24. Through the seizure of the bulge 26 by the buckle 15, the fixed mount 1 and the movable mount 2 are fastened to each other.

When folding, the procedure starts to loosen the buckle 15 by pulling it outward to disconnect with the bulge 26, shown by the direction of the arrow in FIG. 7, where the movable mount 2 is no more in seizure, followed by rotating the movable mount 2, the front wheel frame 3 and the front wheel 30 leftward with respect to the axis, the hinge 24, and pulling it upward, to parallel the front wheel 30 in nestling against to the outer side of the cart frame, shown in FIGS. 9 & 10, to accomplish the leveling of the front wheel 30 for the folding purpose. By tightening the buckle 15 again to stabilize the movable mount 2 and the front wheel frame 3 (the front wheel 30), which will reduce the volume of the packing, cut down the transportation cost, and diminish the storeroom space. The movable mount 2 then experiences a 180-degree turn, and is in harmony with the fixed mount 1 through the match between their respective slopes 12 and 22. The buckle 15 stabilizes the fixed mount 1 and the movable mount 2 by means of the elastic force of the spring 18.

Accordingly, the folding apparatus of this invention is made up of the fixed mount 1 and the movable mount only, and both have fitted ends (the cavity 11 and the fitted end 21) to harmonize each other; moreover, they can also stabilize or rotate to each other through the use of the hinge 24 and the buckle 15, where its structure is pretty simple; during the maneuvering of the folding, simply pulling the buckle 15 outward, and the movable mount 2 and the front wheel frame 3 are then ready to be rotated and pulled upward, which enables the front wheel 30 to be leveled for attaching to the cart frame, and this means to level the front wheel 30 for the folding can be completed in just one succession. The manipulation is even more handy, which is absolutely novel and practical than the prior art.

Besides, this invention may also have the fitted slopes 12, 22 designed in a reversed orientation (right side), and the hinge 24 and the buckle 15 are also placed to the other side, where the movable mount 2 is rotated rightward and pulled upward, to level the front wheel 30 for attaching to the outer side of the card frame, which accomplishes the same function as the aforesaid embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 11 & 12, the present invention may have the hinge 41 designed in the other side (right side), to link the movable mount 4 and the fixed mount 40 fixedly, which are located down the bottom tube 42 of the cart frame, which enables the movable mount 4 to be rotated rightward and pulled upward, for leveling the front wheel 43 for folding and attaching it to the inner side of the cart frame, as shown in FIGS. 13 & 14. The cart frame can be directly folded without unloading the bag, shown in FIG. 15, which accomplishes not only the function as the aforesaid embodiment but the great handiness for the using. This is the second exemplified embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 16 & 17, the present invention may have the hinge 51 soldered directly to the bottom tube 52 of the cart frame, to link the movable mount 5 and the fixed mount 50 fixedly, which are located down the bottom tube 52 of the cart frame, where the movable mount 5 is rotated leftward and pulled upward, for leveling the front wheel 53 for folding and attaching it to the bottom side of the cart frame, as shown in FIGS. 18 & 19, which achieves the function as in the first exemplified embodiment above. This is the third exemplified embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 20˜22, this is the fourth exemplified embodiment of the present invention, which comprises a fixed mount 6, a movable mount 7 and a front wheel frame 8; the fixed mount 6, having its one end connected to a bottom tube 60 of the cart frame, while the other end is provided with a cavity 61, where the cavity 61 is provided with the fitted end of a first spiral bevel gear 62 at its one side, and the center of the gear is penetrated by a locking pin 63. The locking pin 63 is in pinned connection with a buckle 64 at its one end.

The movable mount 7, joined fixedly to a hinge 71 at its center, where the top end of the hinge 71 is placed in the cavity 61 of the fixed mount 6 and pivoted on the locking pin 63, which links the movable mount 7 and the fixed mount 6. The movable mount 7 is provided with the fitted end of a second spiral bevel gear 72 at its top end, and it is in bridle joint with the first spiral bevel gear 62.

The front wheel frame 8, having its top end joined fixedly with the movable mount 7, and its bottom to the front wheel 80 by means of a shaft 81.

According to the above structural combination, the fixed mount 6 and the movable mount 7 of the present embodiment have fitted end for connecting to each other, which actually are the first spiral bevel gear 62 and the second spiral bevel gear 72. The hinge 71 is seized by the buckle 64, which joins the fixed mount 6 and the movable mount 7 fixedly, where the hinge 71 is located down the bottom of the bottom tube 60.

When folding, the procedure starts to loosen the buckle 64 by pulling it outward to disconnect with the hinge 71. The locking pin 63 is then taken as the axis for the movable mount 7 and the front wheel frame 8. Through the rotation relayed from the first spiral bevel gear 62 to the second spiral bevel gear 72, the movable mount 7, the hinge 71 and the front wheel frame 8 are available to be rotated and pulled upward, which enables the front wheel 80 to be leveled for folding and attaching to the outer side of the cart frame, shown in FIGS. 23 & 24. Pressing the buckle 64 a bit more tight, the movable mount 7 and the front wheel frame 8 (the front wheel 80) are stabilized, which will achieve the same function as in the aforesaid first exemplified embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 25-28, this is the fifth exemplified embodiment of the present invention, which is approximately similar to the first exemplified embodiment, comprising a fixed mount 1′, a movable mount 2′ and a front wheel frame 3′, where the difference lies in the buckle 9 part, and the buckle 9 comprises: a body 91, pivoted in the fixed mount 1′, available for seizing or releasing the bulge 26′ of the movable mount 2′, where the outer side of its middle section is jostled by a spring 92; a lever 93, set up at the outer end of the hinge 24′, for being pressed by the hand or the foot (stamp on), and having a guided chunk 94 at one side of its bottom, which is placed in a guided trough 27, exterior to the mount hole 23′ of the fixed mount 1′; a torque spring 95, put around the hinge 24′, and having its both ends joined fixedly to the fixed mount 1′ and the lever 93 respectively; and a linking piece 96, for instance a steel rope, where its one end is joined fixedly to the lever 93 while the other end to the body 91, and it winds its way through the outer side of a tube shroud 19 for its middle portion, where the tube shroud 19 is used to link the bottom tube of the cart frame.

According to the above structural combination, when folding, the lever 93 can be pressed by the hand or the foot, which moves the guided chunk 94 down in the guided trough 27 and pulls the steel rope 96 at the same time, to disconnect the body 91 with the bulge 26′, shown in FIG. 29. According to the operational method of the first exemplified embodiment, rotate the movable mount 2′ and the front wheel frame 3′ leftward and with respect to the hinge 24, the axis, and pull it upward, to parallel the front wheel in attaching to the outer side of the cart frame, for accomplishing the leveling of the front wheel for the folding purpose. By releasing the lever 93, it will return to its original position by means of the restored force of the torque spring 95; meanwhile, the steel rope 96 and the body 91 return to their origins automatically through the restored force of the spring 92, which is back to the status shown in FIG. 28. The body 91 seizes the bulge 26′, to stabilize the fixed mount 1′ and the movable mount 2′, which accomplishes the function as in the aforesaid first exemplified embodiment.

Accordingly, the maneuvering made by the embodiments of this invention to level the front wheel for the folding purpose can be completed in one succession, which signifies handiness in the maneuvering and plainness in the structure, and proves to be inventive than the prior art; moreover, the structure of the present invention has never given its presence to the prior art, and indeed possesses novelty, fully in compliance with the requirements of invention patentability, thereby filing the present application herein subject to the patent law. 

1. A golf bag cart front wheel foldable device, comprising: a.) a fixed mount, having its one end connected to the bottom tube of cart frame and the other end provided with a fitted end, where the fitted end is in pinned connection with a buckle at its one side; b.) a movable mount, capable of being fastened by the buckle and being joined fixedly to said fixed mount by means of a hinge, where its one end is provided with a fitted end which is physically in harmony with said fixed mount; and c.) a front wheel frame, having its top end connected fixedly to said movable mount, while its bottom end is joined to the front wheel; by means of the loosening of the buckle, said movable mount being no more seized, which enables said movable mount and said front wheel frame to rotate with respect to the hinge, and the front wheel being then leveled for folding purpose, to achieve handiness in maneuvering.
 2. A golf bag cart front wheel foldable device according to claim 1 wherein the fitted ends of said fixed mount and movable mount are cavity and protrusion.
 3. A golf bag cart front wheel foldable device according to claim 1 wherein the fitted ends of said fixed mount and movable mount are slopes which are physically in harmony with each other.
 4. A golf bag cart front wheel foldable device according to claim 1 wherein the fitted ends of said fixed mount and movable mount are spiral bevel gears which are in bridle joint with each other.
 5. A golf bag cart front wheel foldable device according to claim 1 wherein said fixed mount is provided with a chamber, which is in pinned connection with a buckle by means of a locking pin, where the buckle is jostled by a spring at the outer side of its middle section to form a springy buckle.
 6. A golf bag cart front wheel foldable device according to claim 1 wherein said movable mount is provided with a bulge for the seizure by the buckle.
 7. A golf bag cart front wheel foldable device according to claim 1 wherein the buckle comprises: a.) a body, pivoted in said fixed mount, available for seizing or releasing the bulge of said movable mount, where the outer side of its middle section is jostled by a spring; b.) a lever, set up at the outer end of the hinge, for being pressed by the hand or the foot, and having a guided chunk at one side of its bottom, which is placed in a guided trough of said movable mount; c.) a torque spring, put around the hinge and having its both ends joined fixedly to said lever and said movable mount; and d.) a linking piece, having its one end joined fixedly to said body and the other end to said lever, where its middle portion winds its way through the outer side of a tube shroud of said fixed mount.
 8. A golf bag cart front wheel foldable device according to claim 1 wherein the hinge is located at top of the bottom tube of the cart frame.
 9. A golf bag cart front wheel foldable device according to claim 1 wherein the hinge is located at bottom of the bottom tube of the cart frame.
 10. A golf bag cart front wheel foldable device according to claim 1 wherein the hinge is joined fixedly to the bottom tube of the cart frame.
 11. A golf bag cart front wheel foldable device, comprising: a.) a fixed mount, having its one end connected to the bottom tube of cart frame and the other end provided with a fitted end, where the fitted end is in pinned connection with a buckle by a locking pin; b.) a movable mount, joined fixedly to a hinge, where the top end of the hinge is pivoted fixedly by the locking pin, which is seized by the buckle, to link said movable mount and fixed mount fixedly, where said movable mount is provided with a fitted end at its top end, which is physically in harmony with said fixed mount; and c.) a front wheel frame, having its top end connected fixedly to said movable mount, while its bottom end is joined to the front wheel; by means of the loosening of the buckle, the hinge being no more seized, which enables said movable mount and said front wheel frame to rotate with respect to the hinge and the locking pin, and the front wheel being then leveled for folding purpose, to achieve handiness in maneuvering.
 12. A golf bag cart front wheel foldable device according to claim 11 wherein said fixed mount is provided with a cavity, for accommodating the top end of the hinge.
 13. A golf bag cart front wheel foldable device according to claim 11 wherein the fitted ends of said fixed mount and movable mount are spiral bevel gears which are in bridle joint with each other.
 14. A golf bag cart front wheel foldable device according to claim 11 wherein the hinge is located at bottom of the bottom tube of the cart frame. 